Atiq-uz-Zaman: “I like Jahandad and Nafay since PSL. I think both have talent and skills to become good internationals”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman has backed all-rounder Jahandad Khan and batsman Khawaja Nafay to be useful assets for the national team in the future.
He noted that he has liked both players since the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) as he took note of their talent.
Jahandad recently featured in Pakistan’s T20I series against Australia and scored five runs in one match, while also taking one wicket.
The 21-year-old got more playing time during the tour of Zimbabwe as he was picked for all three T20Is, where he scored six runs and claimed three wickets at an average of 24.
As for the ongoing South Africa tour, Jahandad got to play in one T20I and snapped up two wickets at an average of 20.
Nafay, meanwhile, has yet to make his international debut but did take part in the Champions T20 Cup, where he amassed 220 runs in 10 matches for the Markhors, which included two fifties, at an average of 24.44 and a strike-rate of 135.80.
“I like Jahandad and Nafay since PSL. I think both have talent and skills to become good internationals,” Atiq said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Following their trip to South Africa, Pakistan returned home and took on the West Indies in a two-Test series in Multan, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series:Â Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha